Tensions flare late in the game Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, as City SC forward Klauss, left, and LAFC midfielder Mathieu Choiniere, center, shout at and shove one another at Energizer Park.
As much as the past two weeks had done for the team confidence for 最新杏吧原创 City SC, its game Saturday night against Los Angeles FC at Energizer Park drove home in an important fact: The team has a long way to go.
City SC was no match for LAFC, which may well be the hottest team in Major League Soccer right now, and lost 3-0. It was never close, with LAFC controlling the ball, forcing turnovers, taking shots, scoring goals and picking fights. All the things that were on David Critchley鈥檚 to-do list for pulling off an upset did not happen.
鈥淲e have to be honest to ourselves and have to say that LAFC was the better team with the ball, against the ball,鈥 said midfielder Marcel Hartel, 鈥渟o they deserve the win for sure, but we were preparing very well before the game. We want to come out and play forward, play with courage, out from the back, not just kicking the ball away. But we have to be honest with ourselves: It was not enough today.鈥
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鈥淲e wanted to put LAFC in a tough game,鈥 said midfielder Eduard Lowen, 鈥渁nd I think we didn鈥檛 do that at all. LAFC was the better team.鈥
The loss makes official what everyone has known for months now: That City SC won鈥檛 be going to the playoffs in 2025. City SC came into the game hanging on by the barest of threads, with five different results potentially eliminating them 鈥 and all but one of them happened, so there was nothing subtle about this.
City SC managed to stay ahead of Sporting Kansas City, which lost to the Los Angeles Galaxy 4-1. City SC needs a win in either of its last two games to assure itself of not finishing with the worst record in the league.
The elimination also means that City SC has clinched a spot in next season鈥檚 U.S. Open Cup. But a playoff spot, the one thing everyone with the club talked about going into the season? Not this year.
鈥淲hen we started the season, we wanted to be much more successful,鈥 said Hartel. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 make the playoff last season, and we started the season to go for the playoffs, and we missed it again. It鈥檚 very disappointing for the club, for us as a team, and now we have to go in the last two games to do our best. We have to prepare well, and in the best way, we get six points for this club and especially for coaching staff.鈥
鈥淚t was inevitable it was going to happen,鈥 Critchley said. 鈥淣ow it鈥檚 just about coming back and seeing how we as a club and the players respond this week in training. For us, it鈥檚 one game that I felt we were dominated in in a lot of moments of the game, but when I look now at how we prepare for Austin at this point next week, it鈥檚 a team that we can go out and beat.
鈥淪o for us now, nothing changes. The objective is to pick up six points in the last two games and try to push ourselves into a position of finishing the season strong and trying to build momentum as we go into 2026.鈥
It took just 15 minutes for this one to get away from City SC. Right back Conrad Wallem, one of the team鈥檚 best players over the past month, had the ball near midfield and tried to pass back to center back Timo Baumgartl. Wallem did not get enough on the ball, and LAFC鈥檚 Denis Bouanga, who is second in the league in goals behind Lionel Messi, easily grabbed it.
Bamugartl and Fallou Fall dropped back, giving Bouanga more room to gain ground, and by the time they stopped just outside the top of the box, Bouanga picked out the short side of the goal and beat Roman Burki. LAFC scores plenty of hard goals 鈥 the last thing a team like City SC needed to do was give them an easy one.
It looked like City SC might get to the half giving up only that goal, but four minutes into first-half stoppage time City SC turned over the ball at midfield and LAFC got it to Son Heung-Min, whose arrival from England has made the team unbeatable. Again, City SC鈥檚 defense gave ground, allowing him to advance on goal, and he scored from about 8 yards to make it 2-0.
鈥淲e give two goals away in the first half that are too sloppy, too easy,鈥 Critchley said. 鈥淥n teams that quality, with the roster they have, will punish you and that鈥檚 why they are where they are in the standings. ... We see Son and Bouanga running at us, we do need to eliminate space behind. But at some point, you have to step in and not let him dribble inside 8, 9, 10 yards and tuck one in the corner.鈥
Especially in the first half, the game was played at City SC鈥檚 end of the field. When City SC did win the ball back, it had trouble getting it upfield and out of danger.
鈥淟AFC put us in a tough game from the very start,鈥 Lowen said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 feel like I was really in the game. They had a lot of ball possession. They moved the ball very well. They were in good spaces, and we just weren鈥檛 there. I think in the crucial moments, we weren鈥檛 there. We made big mistakes that they punished us for it. Sometimes, I think I really felt that in the game, how the momentum was also on LAFC side in terms of, like, 50-50, balls that always came back to them. I remember Durkin, three or four times intercepted and actually won the ball, and somehow it got back to them. And it鈥檚 obviously frustrating.鈥
It was the 11th time City SC has been shut out this season and the 10th time it has allowed three or more goals in a game. City SC hadn鈥檛 been shut out in the previous eight games, its longest streak of the season.
Photos: 最新杏吧原创 City SC falls to Los Angeles FC
Los Angeles FC midfielder Mathieu Choiniere (66, left) takes possession of the ball as Los Angeles FC defender Ryan Porteous (5) gets tangled up with 最新杏吧原创 City midfielder Sang Bin Jeong (77). The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
最新杏吧原创 City midfielder Brendan McSorley (80) goes up for a header between two Los Angeles FC players on this set kick in the first half. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
最新杏吧原创 City midfielder Brendan McSorley (80) is sandwiched between Los Angeles FC midfielder Eddie Segura (4, left) and Los Angeles FC midfielder Mathieu Choiniere (66). The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
最新杏吧原创 City goalkeeper Roman Burki (1) tips a shot on goal over the crossbar in the first half. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
Los Angeles FC defender Ryan Porteous (5) and 最新杏吧原创 City midfielder Sang Bin Jeong (77) vie for the ball. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
Los Angeles FC midfielder Andrew Moran (19, left) tires to slide tackle 最新杏吧原创 City defender Devin Padelford (2) as he moves the ball downfield in the first half. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
Los Angeles FC midfielder Andrew Moran (19, left) tires to slide tackle 最新杏吧原创 City defender Devin Padelford (2) as he moves the ball downfield in the first half. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
最新杏吧原创 City interim coach David Critchley on the sidelines before the start of the game. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
最新杏吧原创 City interim coach David Critchley on the sidelines before the game. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
最新杏吧原创 City interim coach David Critchley on the sidelines before the game. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
最新杏吧原创 City interim coach David Critchley watches pre-game festivities from the sidelines. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
最新杏吧原创 City forward Joao Klauss (9) takes a shot on goal past Los Angeles FC defender Nkosi Tafari (91) that went into the net. But it was disallowed for an offside call. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
最新杏吧原创 City midfielder Celio Pompeu (12) passes to set up 最新杏吧原创 City forward Joao Klauss for a shot on goal which he made - but which was disallowed for an offside call. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
最新杏吧原创 City defender Fallou Fall (95, right) vies for the ball with Los Angeles FC midfielder Andrew Moran (19). The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
最新杏吧原创 City midfielder Sang Bin Jeong (77,left) and Los Angeles FC defender Ryan Porteous (5) sprawl on the turf after they collided. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
Los Angeles FC defender Ryan Porteous (5) and 最新杏吧原创 City midfielder Sang Bin Jeong (77) get tangled up as they vie for the ball. In background at left is 最新杏吧原创 City midfielder Chris Durkin (8). The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
Los Angeles FC forward Heung Min Son (7, left) and 最新杏吧原创 City midfielder Alfredo Morales (27) vie for the ball. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
最新杏吧原创 City midfielder Sang Bin Jeong (77) controls the ball. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
Los Angeles FC forward Heung Min Son (7, left) and 最新杏吧原创 City midfielder Sang Bin Jeong (77) wave to fans after the game as they walked the perimeter of the field. The two both played together on the South Korean national team. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
最新杏吧原创 City midfielder Eduard Lowen (10) reacts after missing a shot on goal late in the game. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
Tensions flare late in the game Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, as City SC forward Klauss, left, and LAFC midfielder Mathieu Choiniere, center, shout at and shove one another at Energizer Park.
The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
Los Angeles FC defender Kenneth Nielsen (45) heads the ball away from 最新杏吧原创 City midfielder Mykhi Joyner (59) late in the second half. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
最新杏吧原创 City forward Joao Klauss (9, right) recoils after he was hit in the throat by Los Angeles FC defender Nkosi Tafari (91) iin the second half. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
Los Angeles FC defender Kenneth Nielsen (45) wins this header from 最新杏吧原创 City defender Tomas Totland (14) in the second half, sending the ball away from the Los Angeles FC goal area. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
最新杏吧原创 City midfielder Celio Pompeu (12) winds up for a shot on goal in the second half. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
The official calls for trainers to attend to 最新杏吧原创 City midfielder Sang Bin Jeong (77, left) and Los Angeles FC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris (1) after they collided in the opening minutes of the game. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
最新杏吧原创 City forward Joao Klauss (9) takes a shot on goal past Los Angeles FC defender Nkosi Tafari (91) that went into the net. But it was disallowed for an offside call. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
最新杏吧原创 City forward Joao Klauss (9) watches his shot on goal hit the back of the net, but it was disallowed because of an offside call. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
最新杏吧原创 City midfielder Celio Pompeu (12) passes to set up 最新杏吧原创 City forward Joao Klauss for a shot on goal which he made - but which was disallowed for an offside call. The Los Angeles FC played 最新杏吧原创 City SC at Energizer Park in 最新杏吧原创 on September 27, 2025.
